The Minister for Development Cooperation, Agnes van Ardenne, has urged the Sudanese government to admit aid organisations to the western region of Darfur.

On that condition, the Netherlands has pledged an additional half a million euros of emergency relief for this region.

This additional aid for refugees and displaced persons in Darfur will be over and above the 1.2 million euros that the Netherlands contributed in November 2003. It will be provided largely through United Nations organisations and other international channels.

Ms Van Ardenne is visiting Sudan with Minister of Defence Henk Kamp to support the north-south peace process (between the government and the SPLM rebel group), which is now nearing its completion.

In contrast, Darfur is in the throes of a bitter armed conflict between government forces and rebel groups. The Dutch ministers appealed to the government in Khartoum to ensure the safety and security of the population and prevent the conflict from spreading any further.

The Dutch humanitarian aid available for all of Sudan totals 7 million euros for 2004.